Senior Research Associate - Downstream Process Development
DryGro, Kenya
Job Description
What we’re looking for
This role will take charge of our downstream processing amp; product development research, developing and refining our approach to plant protein ingredient extraction at our pilot facility in Kenya.
The Sr. Food Scientist is a key team member who manages DryGro's protein ingredient production from Ramp;D through to customer trials. As a technical expert in ingredient development, the Sr. Food Scientist will design, conduct, and analyse experiments to create and refine our core protein isolate as well as its by-products. This role will report to our CTO and work closely with the CTO, plant science team, operations team, and external research support to bring our protein ingredient to market.
Our ideal candidate will come from a background of successful protein ingredient development, with a minimum of BSc in Chemical Eng., Mechanical Eng., Process Eng. Food Science, or Biotechnology. They will be comfortable coordinating scientists amp; technicians, setting priorities and working to hit deadlines as part of a team.
Duties amp; Responsibilities
- Lead our team in designing, conducting, amp; analysing experiments which advance our ability to produce and improve our protein isolate (quality, yield)
- Develop amp; implement innovative processing techniques to separate, purify, concentrate, and characterise novel plant protein ingredients
- Translate these techniques into production-ready protocols to be used by our operations team during the scaling of production
- Develop methods to characterise amp; assess the quality amp; yield of protein throughout the research amp; production process
- Facilitate and manage research partnerships for ingredient development, characterisation, and inclusion/application testing
- Travel to our pilot facility in Kenya periodically to oversee amp; implement research amp; development in person
- Report clearly on progress, issues, and outcomes
Requirements
- BSc./MSc. in Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, Process Engineering, Food Engineering, or Chemical Engineering
- 3+ years experience working in a reputable alt-protein company or other related ingredient/food development company
- Hands-on experience with plant protein isolate development amp; testing, including wet-lab work
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal; ability to work effectively and in close collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders
- Exposure to the regulatory application process for ingredient and facility certification (nice-to-have)
Benefits
- 400-500 day rate / 70-100k salary, depending on experience
- Opportunity to travel to Kenya, expenses and accommodation paid
- Highly rewarding - an opportunity to develop a truly novel protein ingredient